TRACK AND FIELD: New Caney's Campbell nets gold, sets Class 5A record

Nastassja Campbell of New Caney laughs while competing in the girls pole vault during the Region III-5A track and field championships at Turner Stadium, Saturday, April 29, 2017, in Humble.

Nastassja Campbell of New Caney laughs while competing in the girls pole vault during the Region III-5A track and field championships at Turner Stadium, Saturday, April 29, 2017, in Humble.

Photo: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer

Photo: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer

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Nastassja Campbell of New Caney laughs while competing in the girls pole vault during the Region III-5A track and field championships at Turner Stadium, Saturday, April 29, 2017, in Humble.

Nastassja Campbell of New Caney laughs while competing in the girls pole vault during the Region III-5A track and field championships at Turner Stadium, Saturday, April 29, 2017, in Humble.

Photo: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer

TRACK AND FIELD: New Caney's Campbell nets gold, sets Class 5A record

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AUSTIN - Nastassja Campbell figured her time had to come sooner or later.

But the senior New Caney pole vaulter still needed some reassurance at the UIL State Track and Field Championships, especially on her third attempt at an opening height of 12 feet and six inches.

"After I cleared my opening height on my third attempt, it was a mixture of so much anxiety and also wanting to cry because I knew 'Alright, I'm in the competition. I know I'm going to win now that I'm here and I'm vaulting this well."

Campbell didn't just vault well. She set the Class 5A state record at 13-09. Her vault of 13-03 won her gold for the first time in four trips to Mike A. Myers Stadium at the University of Texas.

Campbell got stronger with each vault, too. She needed three attempts on 12-06 and 13-00 but just one on the gold-medal winning 13-03 and two on the state-record 13-09.

And Campbell wasn't far off from becoming the story of the meet Friday. She went for the national record at 14-04 - set last year by Rachel Baxter from Anaheim Canyon – and narrowly missed it on her second attempt.

"In practice, I'd put up a bar at 14, 14-02 and I'll get over it," said Campbell, who'll shoot for the 14-07 range this summer. "So, it was a little disappointing to come in here and know I could hit this bar and it just wasn't the day."

Campbell's journey to gold is one of what ifs and maybes. The Stephen F. Austin signee won bronze at state as freshman vaulting 12 feet. She won bronze again in Austin as a sophomore on what she called a disappointing 11-06.